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Colorado Eagles are rested and focused

Team returns from break with home-and-home

By Mike Brohard Sports Editor

Posted:
12/26/2013 07:38:58 PM MST

Colorado s Kevin Ulanski is another reason the Eagles have been strong offensively as of late, recording nine assists in the past four games. The Eagles host Utah on Friday, the first of a home-and-home series between the two teams this weekend.
(Steve Stoner)

Colorado s Trent Daavettila takes a shot during practice Tuesday at the Budweiser Events Center. Daavettila, currently on a nine-game point streak, was named the Sher-Wood ECHL player of the week Thursday.
(Steve Stoner)

The times are very rare for a professional hockey player when Christmas brings about the chance to spend really quality time with the family over the holiday.

Colorado Eagles coach Chris Stewart allowed his squad to take advantage of the opportunity, giving the players three days away from the ice. About half of the team headed home to locals near and far, while others who are area-based woke up at home and spent the day with family. On Thursday, they were back on the ice for practice in preparation for this weekend's home-and-home with Utah, beginning Friday at the Budweiser Events Center (7:05 p.m.).

Stewart said there is an inherent risk to the break, but he spelled out what was expected on his end.

"It's great to give the guys the opportunity to take a break, but then they need to respond in the proper fashion," Stewart said from his office after the workout. "That's to come back out and play with every ounce of energy they've got. That's really the challenge when you give guys time off. Sometimes they come back and they're flat. That won't be acceptable (Friday) night."

As longtime Eagles veteran Riley Nelson said, that was a given. But as nice as the break was in terms of resting bodies, both he and Trent Daavettila said the mental rest was just as useful.

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"The effort is expected any time of the year or what day it is, but you get a couple of days off for Christmas, but I think it's important for guys to not only get a physical break but a mental break, more so. It's more important, whether you go home and spend time with family or whether you're with a couple of teammates, it's nice to get away and take your mind off of hockey, think about some of the other things that are important in life."

Thursday's practice wasn't the sharpest of the season -- Stewart didn't expect it would be -- but true to holding up their end of the bargain, most every player was on the ice at the Budweiser Events Center long after Stewart had vacated.

It was time spent to get the edge back the Eagles (17-6-3-2) have been playing with lately, especially on the offensive end. Daavettila, who was named the Sher-Wood ECHL player of the week after helping the Eagles capture five of six points on a road swing through San Francisco. He is currently riding a nine-game point streak, where he has scored seven goals and added 11 assists.

His hat trick on Sunday helped the Eagles post a 6-4 victory, but there are a handful of other Eagles enjoying a streak of offensive production, including Kevin Ulanski (nine assists in four games). Daavettila feels there is a chemistry building within the ranks, with each feeding off the other.

"There is a lot of guys doing very well right now, playing very well," said Daavettila, who has climbed to second in the ECHL in scoring with 33 points. "It's definitely contagious on a team when you're winning, you're playing well and guys are putting pucks in the net. The power play's been really good for us as of late, which is a great thing to have going; it keeps guys' confidence up when you're scoring on the power play."

The Eagles head into this two-game set leading the Mountain Division with 39 points, four ahead of Alaska, but also three points behind Western Conference-leading Ontario (42). Utah (7-14-1-2) sits at the bottom of the conference with just 17 points, so the Eagles would like to collect the four points possible to them.

Considering much of January will be spent facing the teams closest to them, every chance to gain an edge is important. The nice part is the Eagles open up the series at home, giving them a chance to build some momentum jumping on a plane the next day.

"The thing is, we can never give up an inch, because every team that we play in this league, there's always a competitive balance that's involved," Stewart said. "So coming out and playing hard is critical, and gaining the four points would be great. We want to stay in the hunt. First place is something we're always looking for."

Utah was busy Thursday with a series of moves, getting goalie Aaron Dell back from the AHL while trading away defenseman Tyler Hinds (Greenville) and rookie goalie Ben Meisner (Fort Worth).

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